(Newser)
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Teenagers who spent long hours in day-care as toddlers are more likely to take risks and act impulsively than peers who spent those years at home, finds the largest and longest study of child-care in America. The findings—sure to stir controversy among parents and policy makers—found that teens rated themselves 16% more impulsive for every extra 10 hours they spent per week in day-care as toddlers.

"These small effects end up being spread and bounce off each other," said one researcher. "In classrooms, the dynamic becomes 'I dare you to take a risk, you dare me to take a risk.'" At least one expert, from New York's Families and Work Institute, thinks the behavioral impact might be good, reports the Los Angeles Times. "All these aspects of impulsiveness and risk-taking can be a positive thing," she noted.

Risk taking, all things considered, is not necessarily a good thing. Unprotected sex, for example, is risk taking.

thejoint00

May 14, 2010 6:09 PM CDT

if a kid is banging his head on a wall, and you put padding on the wall, the kid will hit his head harder. I'm not surprised that working in peer groups increases the capabilities of those involved.

bromius

May 14, 2010 4:19 PM CDT

I think the dynamic is not so much about being pressured by peers to take risks "I dare you..." but instead is about having a guardian that is responsible for many kids so she will only intervene if she sees a kid doing something severe. As opposed to a stay at home mom who can follow the child around and govern and intervene in every opportunity for danger. My mum ran a daycare and it was amazing the things we heard from parents. A child falls off a swing (into a pit of woodchips) and gets a bandaid sized scuff on the knee through his jeans: "I don't want him to play on the swingset anymore until he's older and able to do it without getting hurt" The kid was 5 at least.